Of the 526 votes in the poll, 346 said there should be no new noise or time limits on the festival, 86 voted for a decibel limit after a certain time period, 60 voted to have concerts end by midnight, 34 said there should be decibel limits on all concerts.

The task force has zeroed in on the Arcadia Creek Festival Place and has formed several possible suggestions for the festival site.

Task force members want to know what impact caps of 95, 100 and 105 decibels would have on the festival site when measured at 60 feet from the front of the stage. They want to determine whether those levels would be appropriate to recommend to the Kalamazoo City Commission.

Task force members also proposed a graduated decibel system that would allow a higher decibel earlier in the night that would have to be lowered by, for example, 12:30 a.m.

From the MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette comments:

Ben: "Currently, five late-night festivals run until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday." Bogus. They actually run well past their end times. Last weekend’s festival for example, the Thursday night festival was supposed to end at 12:30am, however they kept going on until 2:30am. It wasn't until around 4am that the drunk, yelling, screaming, fighting, swearing crowds died out. But hey, I live downtown and I guess that is something I should have made myself aware of when I moved here, hm? As much as I don't like them playing until 2-3 in morning the noise, I live here, I made that choice to be around that by moving here.

runnergirl182: I voted to let them play. Here's why: First of all, these festivals have been held at that same spot for a number of years, even before the lofts were created. So if the people living in the lofts have an issue with it, well....... they should've known what they were getting into. No big surprise here!

spedley: I voted for a decibel limit at all times, though I think it should be variable depending on what time it is - the decibel limit should be lower after 11pm. One of the reasons I've stopped going to the festivals is that the music is so loud, I can't have a conversation with the person next to me unless I'm far away from the stage. Honestly, most of the musical acts they bring in aren't a main attraction for me, so I go to see and talk to friends. The music really doesn't have to be as loud as it is for people to enjoy it.

Curtis: I voted: "Let them play. There should be no new noise or time limits." Reason: It's downtown in a city. It may not be the size of Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, or Chicago - but it's still considered a city. Festivals and outdoor concerts have been going on for many, many years. If you moved downtown as a resident, you were aware that outdoor events take place - living with the noise was your choice. These festivals are a major help to Kalamazoo's growth. BluesFest - the largest Blues festival in the Midwest...here in Kalamazoo! Why would we want to do anything to negatively impact these events that do nothing but help grow the city as well as positively impact the community via the funds raised for donations and such to Charities.

From Facebook:

Marcy Vardaman Kilduff: Let the festival be- I can't believe people move to downtown and then complain.....

Becka Howard: loud downtown means a thriving downtown...the last thing we need is tumbleweed in the deserted streets.

Talal Badra: Zero time limits, zero noise restrictions, if you can't lie in bed smiling that people are out having a party, then you are messed up!

Ray James: You can't have it both ways. What about "festival area" says "quiet" to anyone who would buy a property downtown? The band shell is a huge clue that it's going to get loud from time to time.

Ronald Olson: Yes. I live about 1-1/2 miles east of the Arcadia Festival site and can hear the bands playing. That's not a bandshell, it's a megaphone. You are trying to attract people to live in downtown but how long would they really put up with the noise?

Gary D Allen: 11pm-12am is a fair time to cool it. Funny how folks don't take a band shell into consideration when acquiring a living space around that area.

Leah Marie: I moved downtown knowing the deal. Sure it's loud sometimes, but that's a small price to pay. Don't move downtown and then try to change it.